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1. To direct the course of; manage or control:a police officer who conducts traffic; a scientist who conducts experiments.

2. To lead or guide:conducted the tourists through the museum.

3. MusicTo direct the performance of (an orchestra or chorus, for example).

4. To serve as a medium for conveying; transmit:Some metals conduct heat.

5. To comport (oneself) in a specified way:The students conducted themselves with dignity throughout the ceremony.

v.intr.

1. To act as a director or conductor.

2. To show the way; lead.

n.(kŏndŭkt′)

1. The way a person acts, especially from the standpoint of morality and ethics.

2. The act of directing or controlling; management.

3. ObsoleteA guide; an escort.

[Middle Englishconducten, fromLatincondūcere, conduct-, to lead together; see CONDUCE.]

con·duct′i·bili·tyn.

con·ducti·bleadj.

Synonyms: conduct, direct, manage, control, steer1These verbs mean to exercise direction over an activity: Conduct applies to the guidance, authority, and responsibility of a single person or group:The judge conducted the hearing. The committee conducted an investigation into the scandal.Direct stresses regulation to ensure proper planning and implementation:The seasoned politician directed a brilliant political campaign.Manage suggests ongoing guidance of a person, group, or organization:It takes skill to manage a large hotel.Control stresses regulation and usually domination through restraint:The harbormaster controls the number of boats allowed inside the breakwater.Steer suggests guidance that controls direction or course:I deftly steered the conversation away from politics. See Also Synonyms at accompany, behavior.

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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